Harley goes Electric

[spuwho]

Harley Davidson goes electric with new motorcycle. Project Live Wire.



Per Motorcyclist:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/harley_davidson_livewire_electric_bike_first_look/

Dyed-in-the-leather Motor Company faithful who had their worlds rocked by water-cooled V-Rods and rolled by made-in-India Street models may want to sit down for this one—Harley-Davidson, that pillar of conventional, conservative, American cruiser-style motorcycles, has built an electric bike. Now we know for sure that pigs—or Hogs, at least—can fly.

Called Project LiveWire, this sleek eBike is sure to send a shockwave through Harley-Davidson's existing consumer base—if not through the entire motorcycle industry. And that's a good thing. Following on the heels of the Dark Custom series and the entry-level Street lineup, Project LiveWire is the latest salvo in Harley-Davidson's both-barrels-blazing effort to attract new, younger, and different customers to the bar-and-shield brand.

"America at its best has always been about reinvention," said Matt Levatich, H-D President and COO. "Like America, Harley-Davidson has reinvented itself many times in our history, with customers leading us every step of the way. Project LiveWire is another exciting, customer-led moment in our history."

http://www.youtube.com/v/t6F8O5A__Ds

[Josh]

Because if there's one thing the Harley-David customer wants, it's a silent motorcycle.

[civil42806]

Because if there's one thing the Harley-David customer wants, it's a silent motorcycle.

Not to mention range issues and recharging issues. The project fulfilled is real purpose, press releases and posts on the internet.

[spuwho]

Because if there's one thing the Harley-David customer wants, it's a silent motorcycle.

Not to mention range issues and recharging issues. The project fulfilled is real purpose, press releases and posts on the internet.

What if Harley research shows that the average hog never goes more than 50 miles from its garage?

Besides most hogs have small gas tanks and can't get past 200 miles anyway so I don't think range is the issue here.

It will be recharge time, just like it is for Tesla, Leaf and other pure electrics would have.

Lots of PR buzz and why not? They spent the money on the engineering,  I think they are entitled to some.

The motorcycle industry is extremely conservative, nice that a US firm is shaking it up a little.

[ben says]

The motorcycle industry is extremely conservative, nice that a US firm is shaking it up a little.

Is HD still considered a "US firm"? Could be mistaken, but I thought they were bought out by Kawasaki (much to the chagrin of die hard Harley riders).

Regardless, motorcycles are one of the most cost efficient and eco friendly modes of transportation out there. Sure, the tank is small as hell, but a lot of these bikes get over 70 miles to the gallon.

While the electric Harley is probably a PR stunt, research is research, and I can see at some point in the future a hybrid bike. More power to em (pun?).

[spuwho]

While Kawasaki has a significant US presence with an assembly plant in Nebraska, I can assure you that HD is very much a US company with the HQ still in Milwaukee.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Regardless, motorcycles are one of the most cost efficient and eco friendly modes of transportation out there. Sure, the tank is small as hell, but a lot of these bikes get over 70 miles to the gallon.

I'm going to call BS on this statement.  You might get 60-70mpg on a scooter or a 2-stroke 250/300, but anything the least bit enjoyable to ride is going to get closer to 30mpg - best case scenario.

My 250 gets close to 55mpg, but even at WOT it's only going about 80-85mph.  My 600, on the other hand, only gets closer to 20mpg, but I'm not really looking for fuel efficiency when riding "just above" the posted speed limits. 

[ben says]

Regardless, motorcycles are one of the most cost efficient and eco friendly modes of transportation out there. Sure, the tank is small as hell, but a lot of these bikes get over 70 miles to the gallon.

I'm going to call BS on this statement.  You might get 60-70mpg on a scooter or a 2-stroke 250/300, but anything the least bit enjoyable to ride is going to get closer to 30mpg - best case scenario.

My 250 gets close to 55mpg, but even at WOT it's only going about 80-85mph.  My 600, on the other hand, only gets closer to 20mpg, but I'm not really looking for fuel efficiency when riding "just above" the posted speed limits. 

When I say 70 mpg, I'm talking Honda Rebel or Shadow. Those were the stats I was seeing when I was in the market two years ago. Sure, there's some rounding off of those numbers..and I'm sure anything about a Harley Sportster or Triumph is going to get less, but my point remains the same. Even at 30 mpg, that's better than 8 out of 10 cars on the market, no?

[spuwho]

The last motorcycle designed and built with fuel economy as a target audience was the 1982 and 1983 Suzuki GR650 Tempter.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GR650_Tempter

It got 57 mpg.

Since then there has been little emphasis on mpg, though there are no technical reasons why they couldnt.

You can get a TauTau down at Solano's in Jax Beach that's gets over 100 mpg, but it cannot get much over 35mph.

The top mpg bikes are listed here.

http://gas2.org/2013/04/27/13-high-mpg-my2013-motorcycles-you-can-buy/

Clearly they beat the bike from the 80's now, but they aren't marketed as such.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Regardless, motorcycles are one of the most cost efficient and eco friendly modes of transportation out there. Sure, the tank is small as hell, but a lot of these bikes get over 70 miles to the gallon.

I'm going to call BS on this statement.  You might get 60-70mpg on a scooter or a 2-stroke 250/300, but anything the least bit enjoyable to ride is going to get closer to 30mpg - best case scenario.

My 250 gets close to 55mpg, but even at WOT it's only going about 80-85mph.  My 600, on the other hand, only gets closer to 20mpg, but I'm not really looking for fuel efficiency when riding "just above" the posted speed limits. 

When I say 70 mpg, I'm talking Honda Rebel or Shadow. Those were the stats I was seeing when I was in the market two years ago. Sure, there's some rounding off of those numbers..and I'm sure anything about a Harley Sportster or Triumph is going to get less, but my point remains the same. Even at 30 mpg, that's better than 8 out of 10 cars on the market, no?

Honda Rebel is a 250 isn't it?  See above.

The Shadow is just their line of sport touring bikes and get the same mpg as most of the rice rockets in the 600-1000 cc range.  On paper, my 600 says 48mpg, but in reality, and under average riding conditions, you're going to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 30. 

Better how when compared to cars?  You're burning an helluva lot more fuel per mile than you are in a car when you consider 'normal' uses. 

I'm not sure if you know this little fact or not, but the nuts to tires ratio on a bike should never exceed 1:1.  So it's going to take 2 bikes for you and a buddy to grab a bite to eat. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The last motorcycle designed and built with fuel economy as a target audience was the 1982 and 1983 Suzuki GR650 Tempter.

I'm not going to argue the reason for them being built, but recently, within the past 4-5 years, all of the major manufacturers have been putting out a 250-350cc with some pretty good mileage.  They may look like their bigger siblings, but they don't perform anywhere close.  Again, I'm not disputing your statement, just offering a fact that there has been a recent influx of smaller (read:  more fuel efficient) bikes hitting the market.